Beauty in Autumn (Beauty #3)(5)

I nod absently. I'm not thinking about him. I'm thinking about my bag full of blindfolds. I can't forget it. Not if I'm going to lift this curse. Not if I'm going to save the beast.

Is that what you truly want? His voice from my dream echoes in my ear, and I shiver.

I turn, and Leta's there with my bag. Her eyes are full of meaning, as if reminding me of our conversation. "This is your destiny," she whispers as she hands it to me.

I won't forget. I nod at her, hitch my small bag over my shoulder, and turn toward the forest.

"You do this for all of us," the minister says, but I'm not listening. I'm already gazing at the thick expanse of trees along the path, the shadows amidst the greenery.

Somewhere in there is my beast, and maybe in saving him, I can save myself. We can save each other.



It grows quiet as I walk away from the Harvest Stone, the maypole, and all the people gathered there. The forest is thicker than I thought it would be, and by the time I'm out of sight of the village, it's unnervingly silent. The path under my feet is cobbled but heavily overgrown, and autumn leaves scatter past on the breeze. I glance around, but I don't see anything or anyone.

I must remember what Leta said. I stop and open my bag, touched to see that someone's included a loaf of traveling bread and a small skin of water for me. I pull out the first blindfold and tie it tight around my head. I've even made little pockets for my ears, so I can rest the heavy fabric there without worrying it will slide too far down and reveal things. Once it's secure, I grab my bag again and tilt my head, trying to see what's changed.

I wonder if any of this is going to be like my dream.

It's still awfully quiet, though. In my dream, the birds sang and the leaves rustled, and this just feels...unnervingly calm. Nothing like my dream. "Is anyone there?"

"It's me," Leta says, off to one side.

I turn, surprised to hear the wise woman's voice. "Leta? What are you doing here?"

"I came to give you one last bit of guidance, Willow." She touches my arm. "You are being very brave. I know you can do this. Just trust in yourself and what I have told you."

"I won't forget," I tell her. "And I won't look at anything, I swear."

"I have one more piece of advice to warn you about," she says, gripping my hand and squeezing it tightly. "As I have said, if he is fond of you, the beast will try to persuade you to remove your blindfold off. You must not do it, but there is also one more thing." She pauses. "You must not let him come inside you."

"Wh-what?" I can feel myself blushing. "I'm a virgin, Leta!"

"Not for long, my dear," she says in a blunt voice. "I have seen many things in my dreams and explored many possible outcomes. I have seen several different futures and what could happen. And that is why I must warn you of this - if you have sex with the beast, do not let him come inside you. Not until the curse is lifted."

"It'll make the curse continue?" I whisper.

"Er, no. Nothing as dire as that. Just trust me." She pats my hand. I'm not trying to scare you, Willow. Just giving you advice."

I want to ask her how she knows I'll sleep with the beast. He's a monster, after all. But then I think of my dreams, and the erotic undertone of them. I shiver a little, because in my dreams, I want to make love to the beast badly. But I also want to see his face. I don't know what to think. It's not like me to fling myself at a man - especially a cursed one. Maybe this warning's for nothing. "Thank you, Leta."

"Do not thank me," she advises. "Just lift this curse."

"I'll try." I reach out to touch her hand but it's gone. She's gone, and I tilt my head, but I can't hear her anywhere. "Leta?"

Silence. The leaves rustle on the wind, and distantly, I hear birds begin to chirp.

Like in my dream. This seems...right. This is how it begins. I straighten, feeling for the path with my foot. I can't tell which way I'm going because of the blindfold, and I don't want to head in the wrong direction. I stretch an arm out in front of me and take a step forward. The leaves continue to rustle, eerily reminding me of my dreams. I half expect to feel the beast standing behind me. The thought makes my body prick with awareness and I reach out behind me.

Nothing. No one.

"Hello?" I call out. There's no answer, only silence. I pick up my bag and take a step forward, and the birds continue to twitter and sing, the leaves dancing around my skirts. I pause, uncertain. It still feels like i'm on the path, but how can I be sure? I only have three days to lift the curse, and I don't want to spend it wandering endlessly in the woods. Experimentally, I take a few steps to the side. The cobbled stone path ends and I step on grass.

The birds go silent. The wind dies.

Well, that's creepy. I step back onto the path. Immediately, the birds begin their song again. All right. If nothing else, they will guide me. I put a hand out, feeling vulnerable and a little silly wandering into the woods blindfolded. If this is what it takes, though, I'll do it.

I continue on, walking with shuffling steps. I'm not moving fast, but I'm moving, at least. The path is surprisingly clear, given that the cursed forest is never entered by humans. No one dares to enter for fear they won't come out again alive. But I have no choice, so onward I go. Sometimes the cobbles are uneven and I stumble, but my blindfold stays in place. Sometimes the path curves, and I don't find out until things go silent and the breeze dies. Then, I have to backtrack a few steps, find the right way by listening, and continue onward.